City did a lot to clear Keehi Lagoon debris

Maralyn Kurshals asserted local government was absent in the aftermath of Tropical Storm Darby that left the Keehi Lagoon beach park littered with mounds of debris (“Keehi Lagoon mess needs attention,” Star-Advertiser, Letters, Aug. 4).

However, that’s simply not true. There was a short period of uncertainty as the state determined jurisdiction of nearshore waters rests with the city under a 1953 executive order, but soon after the storm had passed, city workers descended upon the lagoon to assist the many canoe clubs who came to help.

By the time the cleanup was pau, a Department of Parks and Recreation backhoe and front-end loaders had filled 25 large dumpsters provided by the Department of Environmental Services.

What the mess at Keehi Lagoon demonstrated is that property owners who live near waterways like Kalihi Stream should not use it as a dumping ground for tree cuttings and other items that wash away during severe storms.

Mark Rigg

Director of Emergency Services

City and County of Honolulu

Vulgarity reflected poorly on delegate

Poor, misguided Chelsea Lyons Kent (“There is no aloha in being silent in the face of wrongdoing,” Star-Advertiser, Island Voices, Aug. 4).

She attempts to justify her display of an obscene gesture on national TV by claiming U.S. Sen. Barbara Boxer did the same thing during the Nevada Democratic Party Convention.

My “simple journalistic curiosity” kicked in, leading to an internet search that found this claim is unsubstantiated in the mainstream press and debunked by the respected website Snopes.com.

Kent is unfortunately wrong to believe her action “is the common language of politics in our era and mars the image of no one.” She has lost credibility in this community, which will mute her voice in the future. As the Dowager Countess said, “Vulgarity is no substitute for wit.”

Martha Torney

Palolo Valley

Solving problems takes hard work

I had to chuckle while reading the Views & Voices section on Thursday (Star-Advertiser, Aug. 4).

On the one hand, Bill Tildsley bemoaned the chronic prob- lems of homelessness, infra- structure upkeep and school quality: “Doesn’t anybody have a fresh idea?”

His answer? Vote for Donald Trump because a bunch of other people hate him (“Trump liked because party elites hate him,” Star-Advertiser, Letters, Aug. 4).

On the other hand, Bernie Sanders supporter Chelsea Lyons Kent tried to justify her crude gesture at the Democratic National Convention (“There’s no aloha in being silent in the face of wrongdoing,” Star-Advertiser, Island Voices, Aug. 4). Her rationale? “I objected in the only effective way I could.”

Above my desk I have pinned some words attributed to Hippocrates: “Life is short, and the art long; the occasion fleeting; experience fallacious, and judgment difficult.”

I can’t help feeling that it’s always taken long, hard, boring work — not savior fantasies and childish acts — to solve our problems.

Patrick DeBusca Jr.

Kaneohe

Root for isle athletes at Olympics in Rio

Let the games begin!

Micah Christenson, Kawika Shoji and Erik Shoji were outstanding high school athletes, whether it be volleyball, basketball or tennis.

Now they will lead the U.S.A. team to an Olympic medal, hopefully the gold medal.

My wife and I were guests at the 2008 games in Beijing and were fortunate to watch Hawaii athletes in the finals of both the men and women volleyball teams. We also saw Bryan Clay win gold in the decathlon.

Two Native Hawaiian players in Beijing often overlooked because they were not born or schooled in Hawaii were Logan Tom (indoor volleyball) and Misty May-Treanor (beach volleyball). I remember Beijing as the Clay-May games. Bryan Clay, Clay Stanley, and Misty May-Treanor all won gold.

Gordon Piianaia

St. Louis Heights

Takai was a great teammate and friend

Not only will U.S. Rep. Mark Takai be remembered as a positive contributor to Hawaii and the nation, many of us will remember him as a great teammate and friend.

As a champion swimmer, he always did what was necessary for the benefit of the team.

As a champion adult, he never failed to give back to his community (swimming and otherwise) with ideas and inspiration.

As in all things, he did it with his friendly smile.

We will remember Mark Takai.

Tom Lileikis

1984 University of Hawaii swim team, Hawaii Kai

LNG not sustainable energy alternative

Supporting liquefied natural gas (LNG) is not in Hawaii’s best interest if it wants to become sustainable.

LNG is extracted via fracking, which is detrimental to our environment. It also is costly to ship LNG to Hawaii.

Hawaii needs better options to create a more sustainable environment so that we do not have to depend on the mainland, or endorse risky LNG extraction practices.

However, if Hawaii chooses to support LNG, we must take measures such as a carbon tax on LNG to push us to look for better, more sustainable alternatives.

Charessa Fryc

Salt Lake

Endless traffic woes fueling road rage

Does the state Department of Transportation even care (“Ige kills highway expansions,” Star-Advertiser, Aug. 2)?

For years we have endured road construction, miserable traffic, rotten roads, potholes and traffic constipation.

When will it end?

Road rage is real (“Stabbings tie up traffic on H-1 for hours,” Star-Advertiser, Aug. 2).

I am only surprised that there isn’t more.

I just spent one hour and 50 minutes idling in traffic between Kalihi and Kunia Road.

John Scheleski

Waipahu